This week the Buccaneers host the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 10 matchup in Tampa Bay, here are three players to watch out for with the Arizona Cardinals.
This week the Buccaneers will try and rebound from their close loss in Week nine to the Seattle Seahawks when they face the Arizona Cardinals, the Cardinals come to Tampa on a two-game losing streak, but they are coming off ten days rest. The Cardinals are a young team but they have a few players that the Buccaneers need to make sure they contain. Here are three players the Buccaneers need to look out for.
Kenyan Drake, Running back
When you thing playmakers you normally don’t think of a Dolphins player, at least not anymore. Kenyan Drake is the exception, Drake has given the Cardinals a boost in the running game since David Johnson has been out with injury. Last week against the 49ers Drake racked up 110 rushing yards and a touchdown in his Cardinals debut.
So far this season the Bucs rush defense has been the best in the NFL, but they will be tested with the speedy yet agile Drake. Rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury will definitely try to get the Cardinals offense going by establishing the run game. Expect Drake to get many of the carries and Bucs defense will need to contain the speedy running back.
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Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Reciever
Larry Fitzgerald may have turned 36 in August, but don’t tell him that. Fitzgerald has remained the Cardinals’ top option in their offense. So far this season Fitzgerald had 485 yards and 2 touchdowns, he has been the most consistent option for rookie quarterback Kyler Murray this season.
The Buccaneers have struggled to defend the pass and this week is no easy game. Fitzgerald is one of the most hardworking players in the NFL and is a precise route runner. The Bucs secondary will have a tough test this week with the veteran wide receiver.
Chrisitan Kirk, Wide Reciever
So far this season Christian Kirk has not been as effective as he’d probably like, so far he has 329 receiving yards but has yet to score touchdown yet this season. Despite this, the Bucs have struggled to stop receivers this season and you shouldn’t bet against any receiving core facing the Bucs.
Kyler Murray will be spreading the ball around in this game and expect Kirk to be apart of that. Kirk is another wide receiver that runs good routes and has reliable hands, so the Bucs need to contain him if they want to win this game. The Cardinals are a desperate team that doesn’t have much to lose, expect them to play this game aggressive against a struggling Bucs defense.